-- The exodus from Egypt -- The Covenant and journey to Canaan (Exodus 19 through Numbers) -- The Israelite possession of Canaan : the books of Joshua and Judges -- Canaanite religion and culture -- "A King Like Those of Other Nations": the books of Samuel and Kings -- Daily life in ancient Israel -- Israelite worship and prayer -- The Kingdom split into two -- The great prophets of the eighth century -- The last days of the Kingdom of Judah -- Jeremiah and the Deuteronomic history -- Prophecy during the Babylonian exile -- Sing us a song of Zion! -- The struggle to restore the land (540-500 B.C.) -- Life in the post-exilic community -- The cultivation of wisdom -- Faith confronting new challenges -- The closing of the Old Testament -- Themes of Old Testament theology.

"Reading the Old Testament is a clear and carefully organized introduction for contemporary readers. It is designed to guide the student of the Bible through the text and its problems, enrich their understanding of the individual biblical books, and explore the way the Bible came to be written ... The author gives special attention to recent archaeological discoveries in the Middle East and how these affect our understanding of the Old Testament ... Reading the Old Testament is particularly illuminating about the way Israel's religious experience was translated into written records." -- From back cover.